In pictures: Tornadoes leave trail of destruction across southern US states

A dangerous storm system that spawned a chain of deadly tornadoes over three days flattened homes and businesses, forced frightened residents in more than half a dozen states to take cover and left tens of thousands in the dark on Tuesday morning. Above, A U.S. flag sticks out of the window of a damaged hot rod car in a suburban area after a tornado near Vilonia, Arkansas.Picture: REUTERS/Carlo Allegri